Geriatric care managementis the process of planning and coordinatingcare of the elderlyand others with physical and/or mental impairments to meet theirlong term careneeds, improve theirquality of life,and maintain their independence for as long as possible. It entails working with persons ofold ageand their families in managing, rendering andreferringvarious types of health and social care services.[1]Geriatric care managersaccomplish this by combining a working knowledge of health and psychology, human development, family dynamics, public and private resources as well as funding sources, while advocating for their clients throughout thecontinuum of care.For example, they may assist families of older adults and others with chronic needs such as those suffering fromAlzheimer's diseaseor otherdementia.[2]
| Geriatric care management | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Elder care management, senior health care management, professional care management |
| Specialty | Geriatrics |
Overview
editGeriatric care management integrateshealth careand psychological care with other needed services such as: housing,home careservices,nutritionalservices, assistance withactivities of daily living,socialization programs, as well as financial and legal planning (e.g. banking,trusts). Acare plantailored for specific circumstances is prepared after a comprehensive assessment has taken place, and is continuously monitored and modified as needed.[3]A comprehensive geriatric care assessment is thorough and can take anywhere from two to five hours in length, this of course is broken down into two or three assessment visits with the patient/family members. The comprehensive assessment is really a compilation of smaller individual assessments with the first one being a primary intake assessment which includes demographic type data as well as a health history, social history, and legal/financial history. From there, a medication profile assessment is included, as well as an assessment of ADLs (activities of daily living) and IADLs (instrumental activities of daily living). In addition other assessments may include; falls risk assessment, home safety assessment, nutritional assessment, depression assessment, pain assessment,mini mental state exam(MMSE), MiniCog clock drawing exam (cognitive assessment), balance assessment, and gait assessment (ability to walk). If the comprehensive geriatric care management assessment is being conducted by a registered nurse, then a physical assessment can be included such as vitals signs recording temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and sometimes FBS or RBS (fasting orrandom blood sugar) checks for diabetics.
Geriatric care managers
editGeriatric care managers typically have formal education and experience innursing,social work,gerontologyor other health service areas. They are expected to have extensive knowledge about the costs, quality, and availability of services in their communities.
Professional care managers help individuals, families, and othercaregiversadjust and cope with the challenges of aging or disability by:
- Conducting care-planning assessments to identify needs, problems and eligibility for assistance;
- Screening, arranging, and monitoring in-home help and other services;
- Reviewing financial, legal, or medical issues;
- Offering referrals to specialists to avoid future problems and to conserve assets;
- Providing crisis intervention;
- Acting as a liaison to families at a distance;
- Making sure things are going well and alerting families of problems;
- Assisting with moving their clients to or from a retirement complex,assisted living facility,rehabilitationfacility ornursing home;
- Providing client and family education andadvocacy;
- Offeringcounselingand support.
Depending on the country andhealth care organization,professional fees for the services of geriatric care managers are primarily billed privately on a privately paidfee-for-servicebasis. In the United States, they are not covered byMedicaid,Medicarenor by most privatehealth insurancepolicies. However, clients may be able to bill some services tolong term care insurance,depending on the history of the individual case.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^Cress, Cathy Jo.Handbook of Geriatric Care Management.Jones & Bartlett Publishers, 2010.
- ^National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers."What is a Geriatric Care Manager?"Archived2005-09-07 at theWayback MachineTucson, AZ. Accessed 8 August 2011.
- ^SeniorMag.Geriatric Care Management (Assessment).Accessed 8 August 2011.